The Hindu : Front Page : It’s status quo, says Samy Vellu

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Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008
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It’s status quo, says Samy Vellu

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Malaysian Minister of Works Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu on Tuesday denied an agency report from Kuala Lumpur that his government had suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh with retrospective effect from December 31, 2007.

The Minister was here to participate in the sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meeting.

Mr. Vellu, who is also the president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, said: “The statement that has come in Reuters is not true; there is no ban.”

Mr. Vellu said he was making this statement after speaking to the Malaysian Prime Minister, the Minister for Human Resource and the Secretary-General of Home Affairs.

On being pressed for further details, the Malaysian Minister — who was accompanied by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi — said: “Everything is status quo.” As to whether Indian workers were welcome in Malaysia, his answer was: “When it is needed, the workers are welcome.”

Asked for his reaction, Mr. Ravi said: “I believe the Minister is right. We cannot depend on media reports. I heard him speak to the Malaysian Prime Minister. Let us believe him.”

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